Michigan’s housing crisis is being compounded by the age of its existing homes. Roughly six‑in‑ten occupied units – about 2.5 million homes and apartments – were built in or before the 1970s, a legacy that dates back to the Nixon era. The median home age in the state is 53 years, eight years older than the national median.
Why older homes matter to families
Home‑builder experts say aging structures bring hidden costs. “Do people want to walk in and then invest that kind of money to remodel a home?” asked Dawn Crandall of the Home Builders Association of Michigan. Older roofs, water heaters, crumbling shingles and cracked foundations can quickly turn a seemingly affordable purchase into a financial burden.
Even more concerning are homes with hazardous materials such as asbestos tile, lead‑based paint or knob‑and‑tube wiring. For first‑time buyers – whose median age rose to 40 last year, according to the National Association of Realtors – these repair expenses can be a deal‑breaker.
Policy proposals and political debate
State lawmakers have introduced several bills aimed at loosening zoning restrictions to accelerate new home construction. None have cleared the legislature yet, leaving the upcoming gubernatorial race as a potential turning point.
Both Democratic candidate Gov. Jocelyn Benson and Republican challenger Rep. John James say they have ideas to make housing more affordable, though they have not detailed specific strategies for the aging stock. James framed the problem as proof that “we need to make it easier and more affordable to build new homes,” and he has called for reform of what he calls “costly green building codes” overseen by the Department of Energy. Benson emphasized lowering overall housing costs by streamlining permitting, modernizing water infrastructure, and offering weatherization assistance to keep families in their current homes.
State programs and regional examples
Michigan already offers tax credits for historic‑preservation projects, but many older homes do not qualify. The state’s housing authority runs several first‑time‑buyer and home‑repair initiatives, including a program that subsidizes energy‑efficiency upgrades such as new windows, furnaces and roofs.
Neighboring states provide additional models. Minnesota offers low‑interest home‑improvement loans that are forgiven for its lowest‑income residents. Maryland’s Housing Rehabilitation Program supplies grant funding, while Indiana helps local communities launch their own repair programs.
Economic backdrop
Experts point to the Great Recession as a key factor in Michigan’s aging inventory. Home‑building permits fell from 54,000 in 2005 to just 6,900 in 2009, a decline Crandall likened to a “personal Katrina” for the industry. The slowdown left a generation of homes without replacement, and the state’s housing shortage remains significant.
Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies notes a nationwide “prolonged period of underbuilding” during the recession, meaning fewer new homes entered the market compared with previous decades. One‑in‑four U.S. homeowners now live in homes built before 1960, many of whom struggle with maintenance costs.
Looking ahead
Michigan’s 2022 statewide housing plan estimated a shortfall of roughly 190,000 units; the latest figures from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority suggest the gap has narrowed to about 97,000 homes. The Whitmer administration has signed some regulation‑repeal bills and a new state‑level tax credit, but broader zoning reform remains stalled amid local‑government resistance.
Whichever candidate wins the 2026 gubernatorial race, they will need bipartisan political will to address both the supply shortage and the costly upkeep of the state’s aging housing stock.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
